US5899283A - Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations - Google Patents

Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations Download PDF

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Publication number
US5899283A
US5899283A US08/968,254 US96825497A US5899283A US 5899283 A US5899283 A US 5899283A US 96825497 A US96825497 A US 96825497A US 5899283 A US5899283 A US 5899283A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
bit
rock
drill
formations
drilling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US08/968,254
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English (en)
Inventor
David M. Cox
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Railhead Underground Products LLC
New Railhead Manufacturing LLC
Original Assignee
Railhead Underground Products LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=26717383&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US5899283(A) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority to US08/968,254 priority Critical patent/US5899283A/en
Application filed by Railhead Underground Products LLC filed Critical Railhead Underground Products LLC
Priority to NZ329213A priority patent/NZ329213A/en
Priority to AU50307/98A priority patent/AU701143B2/en
Priority to CN98100202A priority patent/CN1190150A/zh
Assigned to RAILHEAD UNDERGROUND PRODUCTS, LLC reassignment RAILHEAD UNDERGROUND PRODUCTS, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: COX, DAVID M.
Priority to KR1019980001844A priority patent/KR19980070694A/ko
Priority to JP10033872A priority patent/JP3088097B2/ja
Priority to TW087101363A priority patent/TW358141B/zh
Priority to NO980489A priority patent/NO980489L/no
Priority to ARP980100503A priority patent/AR006288A1/es
Priority to EP98300851A priority patent/EP0857853A3/de
Priority to BR9800555A priority patent/BR9800555A/pt
Publication of US5899283A publication Critical patent/US5899283A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Assigned to NEW RAILHEAD MANUFACTURING, L.L.C. reassignment NEW RAILHEAD MANUFACTURING, L.L.C. NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: COX, DAVID M.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
    • E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00—Drill bits
    • E21B10/46—Drill bits characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts
    • E21B10/56—Button-type inserts
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/01—Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
    • E21B47/013—Devices specially adapted for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/01—Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
    • E21B47/017—Protecting measuring instruments
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
    • E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
    • E21B7/064—Deflecting the direction of boreholes specially adapted drill bits therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to earth drilling, and more particularly to horizontal directional drilling.
  • This invention relates to directional drilling systems. These systems are primarily applicable to horizontal directional drilling, and more specifically to earth and rock formation boring. Low pressure, high volume fluid conduits within the boring bit body are provided for the purpose of lubricating the bit and suspending spoils.
  • the system of the present invention is designed for lateral or horizontal directional drilling, where it is necessary to bore or drill through an earth-bound formation, such as rock, and still remain directable.
  • This industry sometimes called "trenchless digging," installs utilities around immovable objects, such as roadways, rivers and/or lakes, etc.
  • the conventional boring technique traditionally operates from a boring device or machine that pushes and/or rotates a drill string consisting of a series of connected drill pipes with a directable drill bit to achieve an underground path or direction through which a conduit or utility device can be installed.
  • a sonde immediately follows the drill bit as it is directed over or under or around obstructions.
  • the sonde transmits electronic positioning signals to a worker on the surface above the sonde by way of a complementary receiving device.
  • Traditional methods of drilling include a drill body and a drill blade of some type that is usually concentric in design and creates a cylindrical hole about the same diameter as the drill blade.
  • the prior art methods and devices typically use high pressure high velocity jetting to create steerability and cooling of the drill body and blade.
  • My invention uses fluids for the purpose of lubricating and suspending the spoils, as is common in most oilfield-related drilling, and fluids are not used in any way to steer the product by way of jetting.
  • My directional earth boring system for boring all earth formations such as dirt, sand, rock or any combination of formations, utilizes a bit body containing fixed and semi-floating cutting points and one or more fluid channels for the purpose of lubricating and dispersing cut and/or fractured formations.
  • the heel-down method of attachment to the drill body helps to create a random elliptical orbital motion that causes a high impact fracturing action when used in conjunction with the thrust and rotation movement of the associated drill string.
  • the system is directly related to the size and weight of all the associated drill parts in conjunction with the boring technique utilized. In other words, the exact upper limits of capabilities of this drill bit system are unknown at this time, due to the fact that new techniques or procedures of operation through multiple formations are being developed every day.
  • a concave channel within the drill bit body is used to reduce the cross-sectional density of the face of the bit during steering as well as providing an alignment guide during boring process.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the bit and sonde housing of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the bit and sonde housing of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the front portion of the bit
  • FIG. 4 is a partially broken away side view of the bit and front portion of the sonde housing
  • FIG. 5 is a section view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end stud used in the bit.
  • the drilling system including the bit of the present invention is a system of horizontal directional drilling in rock.
  • a drill head 100 includes specially-configured drill bit 102 at one end of a drill string 104 designed to intermittently rotate as it digs in, stops rotation until the rock fractures, and then moves after fracture in a random, orbital intermittent motion.
  • the drill string 104 is rotated under pressure at a substantially constant rotational velocity at the other end of the drill string 104 by a conventional directional drilling machine.
  • a fluid (not shown) may be pumped into the drill string 104 and out the drill bit 102 to lubricate the hole and disperse cuttings.
  • the specially-configured asymmetric drill bit 102 for horizontal directional drilling in rock includes a bit body 106 attached to an end 108 of a sonde housing 110.
  • the bit body 106 is angled with respect to the sonde housing 110, as best shown in FIG. 4, with the angle displacement from collinear alignment being relatively slight, that is, on the order of about 15 degrees.
  • the bit body 106 is mounted with three substantially forward-facing end studs 112 extending from a planar front face 114 (FIG. 4).
  • a plurality of substantially radially-facing body studs 116 extend from a cylindrical side surface 118.
  • Each end stud 112 is composed of a carbide tip 117a, a stud body 117b, and a snap ring 117c, as best shown in FIG. 3. Snap rings 117c are retained by complementary semi-toroidal grooves 117d and 117e on stud body 117b and cylindrical socket 117f, respectively.
  • the three forward-facing end studs 112 are slightly angled with respect to each other, as best shown in FIG. 2, with the longitudinal axis of the middle end stud 112 coplanar with the drill string and the other two angled outwardly, as shown.
  • a plurality of chunk-protection studs 120 extend from an intersection edge 122 (FIG. 2) of the front face 114 and a concave steering face 124.
  • Drill bit 102 has a concave steering channel 125 in substantially laterally-facing steering face 124 of the drill bit.
  • the asymmetric drill bit 102 and sonde housing 110 are joined by threaded fasteners 126.
  • the directional earth boring tool system for boring all earth formations such as dirt, sand, rock and/or any type combination of formations, utilizes the bit body containing fixed and semi-floating cutting points and one or more fluid channels for the purpose of lubricating and dispersing cut and/or fractured formations.
  • the high-impact point-fracturing method of removal of dense or rocky formations also creates a high-velocity orbital node while drilling softer or less dense formations.
  • the key feature of the invention is that bit 102 stops and starts as it digs in and then fractures rock, then jumps to a new position.
  • the beveled cavity within the bit design allows the bit to be steerable in all formations.
  • the bit body is attached to the boring drill body, which contains at least one or more fluid channels, by means of an interference connection that withstands transverse loading.
  • the asymmetrical method of attachment incorporates resultant reactions from the drill stem and drill body derived from input torque and thrust supplied by drilling machine, to create a random elliptical pattern while boring which also creates a hole larger than the concentric design of the drill body would typically allow.
  • Drilling of hard rock formations is defined as a fracturing process as opposed to a cutting or shearing operations as used in conventional earth drilling applications. It is known that earth boring for horizontal directional drilling may be a combination of cutting or shearing and jetting.
  • the jetting methods employ a system of high pressure, high velocity fluids with the specific purpose of making a suspension, or solution of earth formations and flowing these suspensions or solutions into the surrounding formations or out of the bore hole.
  • Cutting or shearing systems use fluids to lubricate the drilling tools as well as carry off the spoils of drilling.
  • Rock formations do not cut or shear well, and do not dissolve or contain binding components that are easily disassociated with water solvents or hydraulic forces of jetting.
  • No current drilling bit and process combines the operational parameters of rock fracturing, and high included angle offsets for directional steering in soft earth formations.
  • the new asymmetrical directional drilling point for rock and hard earth formations combines the techniques of point contact fracturing for rock with a high angle of attack for hard earth as well as soft formations. Fracturing is accomplished with application of hard carbide points on random elliptical torque vectors created as the asymmetrical geometry of the bit forms eccentric rotational paths by combination of rotation and thrust moments. Drilling of rock like shales that are typically considered to be compressed and extremely dense and dry clays are also enhanced by the aggressively pointed geometry of the drill bit.
  • the asymmetrical geometry enhances the performance of the drill rack by multiplying the fracturing effect through leverage on the main drilling points.
  • the offset drill points randomly fracture and engage as center points of rotation and multiply transverse moments 3 to 8 times the actual transverse moments that can be produced at the same diameter in a symmetrically formed fixed diameter drill bit.
  • Bore hole size is defined and controlled by stabilizing the forward cutting points on a trailing shoe that contains replaceable, semipermanent carbide buttons that will fracture off irregular surfaces and help smooth the borehole as well as reduce the abrasive wear on the body of the bit.
  • Rock or hard earth steering is accomplished by a partial rotation boring method. This method is applied by thrusting the bit into the bore face at a predefined rotational index position and rotating to a similarly defined end rotation position and then pullback. The procedure is then repeated as often as necessary to form the borehole into the desired amount of turn.
  • the "steering channel” also reduces the frontal blank surface area greater than 50% resulting in less chances of "formation buildup.” This enhances push steering performance as well as eases the ability of drilling spoils to flow under the bit when straight boring.
  • This drill bit does not use jetting or directed fluid application to enhance the performance of the drilling action. Drilling fluid is required to clean the drill bit and remove spoils from the bore hole. The drill bit will not generate high pressure during normal drilling applications.
  • a unique shear relief structure is provided to reduce the loads on fasteners used to attach the rock bit to the sonde housing.
  • the shear relief includes a longitudinal recessed groove, having a rectangular cross-section, and a matching raised tongue on the back side of the rock bit.
  • the tongue extends substantially the entire length of the rock bit back side, for substantially complete engagement of the groove.
  • the shear relief removes substantially all the shear load on the fasteners used to hold the rock bit to the sonde housing.
  • the fasteners provide clamping pressure only, while the shear relief absorbs the enormous shear forces applied to the rock bit.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geophysics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
US08/968,254 1997-02-05 1997-11-12 Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations Expired - Fee Related US5899283A (en)

Priority Applications (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/968,254 US5899283A (en) 1997-02-05 1997-11-12 Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations
NZ329213A NZ329213A (en) 1997-02-05 1997-11-20 Asymmetric drill bit body angled to sonde housing and having forward facing end studs
AU50307/98A AU701143B2 (en) 1997-02-05 1998-01-02 Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations
CN98100202A CN1190150A (zh) 1997-02-05 1998-01-05 岩层的水平定向钻井钻头
KR1019980001844A KR19980070694A (ko) 1997-02-05 1998-01-22 암석층의 수평방향 드릴링용 드릴 비트
JP10033872A JP3088097B2 (ja) 1997-02-05 1998-01-29 岩層を水平に方向を定めて穿孔するためのドリルビット
TW087101363A TW358141B (en) 1997-02-05 1998-02-04 Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations
ARP980100503A AR006288A1 (es) 1997-02-05 1998-02-04 Pieza de perforacion para la perforacion direccional horizontal de formaciones de roca
NO980489A NO980489L (no) 1997-02-05 1998-02-04 Borekrone for horisontal boring i fjellformasjoner
EP98300851A EP0857853A3 (de) 1997-02-05 1998-02-05 Bohrkrone zum Horizontalrichtbohren einer Gesteinsformation
BR9800555A BR9800555A (pt) 1997-02-05 1998-02-05 Broca para perfuração direcional horizontal de formações rochosas

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US4074797P 1997-02-05 1997-02-05
US08/968,254 US5899283A (en) 1997-02-05 1997-11-12 Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5899283A true US5899283A (en) 1999-05-04

Family

ID=26717383

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/968,254 Expired - Fee Related US5899283A (en) 1997-02-05 1997-11-12 Drill bit for horizontal directional drilling of rock formations

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US5899283A (de)
EP (1) EP0857853A3 (de)
JP (1) JP3088097B2 (de)
KR (1) KR19980070694A (de)
CN (1) CN1190150A (de)
AR (1) AR006288A1 (de)
AU (1) AU701143B2 (de)
BR (1) BR9800555A (de)
NO (1) NO980489L (de)
NZ (1) NZ329213A (de)
TW (1) TW358141B (de)

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000011303A1 (en) 1998-08-24 2000-03-02 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Apparatus for directional drilling
US6161636A (en) * 1998-12-15 2000-12-19 Osborne; Joseph D. Boring head and bit protective collar
WO2001006085A1 (en) * 1999-07-16 2001-01-25 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Improved sonde housing structure
EP1083292A1 (de) 1999-09-10 2001-03-14 Earth Tool Company L.L.C. System mit auswechselbarem Bohrmeissel zum Richtungsbohren
US6247544B1 (en) 1997-03-06 2001-06-19 Vermeer Manufacturing Company Duckbill with cutting teeth
US6302410B1 (en) 1999-10-22 2001-10-16 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Rod gripping jaw
WO2002020935A1 (en) * 2000-09-07 2002-03-14 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Bit for horizontal directional boring
US6371223B2 (en) 1999-03-03 2002-04-16 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Drill head for directional boring
US6390207B2 (en) 1999-03-03 2002-05-21 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Method and apparatus for directional boring under mixed conditions
US6422782B1 (en) 1999-12-16 2002-07-23 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Apparatus for mounting an electronic device for use in directional drilling
US6470979B1 (en) 1999-07-16 2002-10-29 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Sonde housing structure
US20030131992A1 (en) * 2002-01-14 2003-07-17 Tod Michael Sonde housing and method of manufacture
US6789635B2 (en) 2001-06-18 2004-09-14 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Drill bit for directional drilling in cobble formations
US6810973B2 (en) 2002-02-08 2004-11-02 Hard Rock Drilling & Fabrication, L.L.C. Steerable horizontal subterranean drill bit having offset cutting tooth paths
US6810971B1 (en) 2002-02-08 2004-11-02 Hard Rock Drilling & Fabrication, L.L.C. Steerable horizontal subterranean drill bit
US6810972B2 (en) 2002-02-08 2004-11-02 Hard Rock Drilling & Fabrication, L.L.C. Steerable horizontal subterranean drill bit having a one bolt attachment system
US6814168B2 (en) 2002-02-08 2004-11-09 Hard Rock Drilling & Fabrication, L.L.C. Steerable horizontal subterranean drill bit having elevated wear protector receptacles
US6827159B2 (en) 2002-02-08 2004-12-07 Hard Rock Drilling & Fabrication, L.L.C. Steerable horizontal subterranean drill bit having an offset drilling fluid seal
US20050034901A1 (en) * 2001-11-14 2005-02-17 Meyer Timothy Gregory Hamilton Fluid drilling head
US6866106B2 (en) 1995-12-08 2005-03-15 University Of Queensland Fluid drilling system with flexible drill string and retro jets
US20050067166A1 (en) * 1997-06-06 2005-03-31 University Of Queensland, Commonwealth Erectable arm assembly for use in boreholes
US7195082B2 (en) 2002-10-18 2007-03-27 Scott Christopher Adam Drill head steering
WO2010099512A1 (en) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-02 Jones Mark L Drill bit for earth boring
US20110031018A1 (en) * 2009-08-04 2011-02-10 Pioneer One, Inc. Horizontal drilling system
US8939237B2 (en) 2010-11-12 2015-01-27 Vermeer Manufacturing Company Underground drilling apparatus
US8955586B1 (en) * 2011-01-24 2015-02-17 Earth Tool Company, Llc Beacon assembly
US9732560B2 (en) 2013-08-29 2017-08-15 Vermeer Manufacturing Company Drilling tool and apparatus
US10246943B2 (en) * 2016-06-07 2019-04-02 Astech Alloy Steel Technologies, Inc. Drill bit for directional drilling and method of manufacturing

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9903256D0 (en) 1999-02-12 1999-04-07 Halco Drilling International L Directional drilling apparatus
AU2001241969A1 (en) 2000-03-03 2001-09-17 Vermeer Manufacturing Company Method and apparatus for directional boring under mixed conditions
CN105926592A (zh) * 2016-06-02 2016-09-07 中国水利水电第五工程局有限公司 一种钻孔桩施工方法
ZA201906123B (en) * 2019-09-17 2021-06-30 Nicolas Jacobus Bischoff Drill assembly and method of using same

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Cited By (52)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6866106B2 (en) 1995-12-08 2005-03-15 University Of Queensland Fluid drilling system with flexible drill string and retro jets
US6247544B1 (en) 1997-03-06 2001-06-19 Vermeer Manufacturing Company Duckbill with cutting teeth
US20050067166A1 (en) * 1997-06-06 2005-03-31 University Of Queensland, Commonwealth Erectable arm assembly for use in boreholes
US7370710B2 (en) 1997-06-06 2008-05-13 University Of Queensland Erectable arm assembly for use in boreholes
US6588515B2 (en) 1998-08-24 2003-07-08 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Drill bit for directional drilling
US6260634B1 (en) 1998-08-24 2001-07-17 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Sonde housing for directional drilling
US6263983B1 (en) 1998-08-24 2001-07-24 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Apparatus for directional drilling
US6148935A (en) * 1998-08-24 2000-11-21 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Joint for use in a directional boring apparatus
WO2000011303A1 (en) 1998-08-24 2000-03-02 Earth Tool Company, L.L.C. Apparatus for directional drilling
US6390087B1 (en) 1998-08-24 2002-05-21 Earth Tool Company. L.L.C. Drill bit for directional drilling
US6161636A (en) * 1998-12-15 2000-12-19 Osborne; Joseph D. Boring head and bit protective collar
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KR19980070694A (ko) 1998-10-26
TW358141B (en) 1999-05-11
NO980489D0 (no) 1998-02-04
AU701143B2 (en) 1999-01-21
BR9800555A (pt) 1999-07-06
EP0857853A2 (de) 1998-08-12
NZ329213A (en) 1998-08-26
JP3088097B2 (ja) 2000-09-18
CN1190150A (zh) 1998-08-12
AR006288A1 (es) 1999-08-25
EP0857853A3 (de) 1999-11-10
AU5030798A (en) 1998-08-13
NO980489L (no) 1998-08-06
JPH10266754A (ja) 1998-10-06

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